Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, has praised the private sector for its increasing support towards Zambia’s creative industry.

Speaking when a private sector consortium made their contribution towards the upcoming Ngoma Awards in Lusaka, Mr Nkandu noted that improved visibility of the National Arts Council and the broader creative sector is as a result of strengthened management and renewed collaboration between government and industry players.

Wonderful Group of Companies contributed a cheque worth K20, 000, while Great North Academy contributed a K200, 000 cheque respectively.

The media reports that the Minister thanked the Board of the National Arts Council, Wonderful Groups, ZANACO, Great North Academy, ShopRite and other partners for what he described as “a gesture that will go a long way in uplifting the standards of the Ngoma Awards and the arts industry at large.”

Mr Nkandu further noted that the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investment is beginning to yield results, pointing to increased engagements between the private sector and government.

He said private companies are now more confident to partner with government because they feel assured of peace, policy stability and security for their investments.

“You can imagine, if we did not have this enabling environment, we would not be receiving what we are receiving today.

“This is proof that when the private sector thrives, they are able to share part of their profits with communities, and industries such as the arts benefit,” he said.

Mr Nkandu cited Wonderful Group’s Capital Fertiliser investment, with over 10,000 employees, and 95 percent of them being youths, as an example of how a conducive economic environment stimulates job creation and empowerment across sectors.

He further appealed to more companies to support the arts, describing the sector as a potential major contributor to Zambia’s GDP.

The Minister further, noted that unlike in previous years when private sector investment largely went to football, companies are now recognising the value and potential of the arts.

The Minister, who recently engaged artists in Muchinga Province, also acknowledged challenges faced by creatives in rural districts.

He suggested the creation of district level “mini Ngomas” to identify, mentor and promote emerging artists so that they can compete effectively on national and international platforms.

“Now that we have gone international, our artists must do their homework. We must empower them in all districts so they are not left behind,” he said.

Mr Nkandu also emphasised that excellence, hard work and improved policy support must drive the industry forward, adding that the era of handouts is over.

He said the Ngoma Awards, which celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, are not only meant to honour artists but to strengthen national identity, promote talent, and stimulate the growth of the creative economy.

The Minister reiterated that the government deeply values private sector support, which he described as a “powerful statement of confidence” in Zambia’s artistic potential.

He urged more companies to join the initiative, saying their participation will boost visibility and inspire broader industry engagement.

“We have underestimated the power of this sector. As we move forward, we will better understand how much the creative industry contributes to our GDP, because talent in Zambia is everywhere,” he said.

Mr Nkandu cited emerging musicians in rural districts such as Kanchibiya as examples of the untapped artistic potential that the country must nurture.

Meanwhile, National Arts Council of Zambia Director, Maaka Chipindi, revealed that the Ngoma Awards now in their 20th year are close to finalising a major partnership with Trace Africa TV, a move expected to expand the awards to more than 180 countries.

He said the council is currently working with the Attorney General’s Office to finalise agreements and contracts.

Mr Chipindi added that the partnership has generated excitement among sponsors who see it as an opportunity to enhance both the visibility and coverage of the awards, potentially allowing the event to grow even bigger in the coming year.

Police in Mwinilunga District have arrested and charged a 49 years old prominent businessman for allegedly defiling a 13 years old girl.

Northwestern Province Police Commissioner Brighton Siwale who confirmed the incident in a statement to the media in Solwezi, identified the suspect as Boldwin Masumba of kawiku area in Mwinilunga District.

Mr Siwale said the incident was reported on 2^nd November ,2025, by the victim’s mother Rosa Kalala aged 38 of Kaputu Compound that her daughter aged 13, a grade seven pupil was defiled by Boldwin Masumba and the victim sustained painful private parts.

“Mwinilunga Police Station received a report of defilement which occurred on an unknown date but between 14th September 2025 and 23rd September 2025, between 16:00 hours and 18:00 hours within Mwinilunga township,” he said.

The Police Commissioner added that the victim’s mother and the suspect are close family friends who usually visit each other and that the suspect who has Wi-Fi network at his home offered the victim to be going to his house at around 18:00 hours and to access online classes.

He explained on 14th September,2025 when the victim’s mother travelled to Zambezi, she left the victim in the custody of her step father Gavius Musesa and on the 15th November,2025 at around 16:00, hours the victim was picked from home by the suspect Boldwin Masumba in his Toyota Hilux.

“The suspect diverted to his farm and parked the vehicle. Whilst in the vehicle he forced the victim to touch his manhood as he also played with her vagina.  He later undressed the victim and started rolling his manhood on the minor’s vagina and tried to push it inside but failed despite slightly penetrating.

He later gave the victim K200, took her for some online classes at his home, and later dropped her back home,” Mr Siwale said.

He said the suspect repeated the same for about days in his car in different locations until when the mother returned back home from Zambezi on 23rd September,2025.

“On 31st October 2025, the victim’s mother noticed some unusual behaviour in the way the suspect was communicating with her daughter. This prompted her to ask her daughter about what was going on between her and the suspect. She disclosed to her that she had been having sex with the suspect during her absence. The mother immediately took her to the Hospital, and later, she reported the matter to the Police,” he said.

Mr Siwale said the police made a follow-up on the suspect who reported himself on 17th November,2025 at Mwinilunga Police Station after being summoned.

He stated the suspect was officially charged and arrested for the subject offence of defilement and later released on Police Bond awaiting court appearance,

The Ministry of Community Development in Mpulungu district, Northern province has flagged off the distribution of farming inputs to farmers under the Food Security Pack (FSP) Programme for the 2025/2026 farming season.

Mpulungu District Commissioner, Gehard Sikazwe, launched the distribution at Isoko Secondary School and urged beneficiaries to use the inputs prudently.

Mr Sikazwe noted that the programme is costly and stressed the need for farmers to use the support for its intended purpose.

Mr Sikazwe said Government has implemented the Food Security Pack in the district for many years to enhance household food security and reduce poverty.

“If you look at these inputs that you are collecting today, they can even cost close to K7,000 at the market and Government is giving them to you for free so that you can have food in your homes,” he observed.

He also reminded farmers to pay back what is required, noting that some beneficiaries in the past failed to do so and disadvantaged others. He explained that the inputs are part of a revolving fund and each beneficiary is expected to return two bags of maize, which are later used for other empowerment initiatives within their clubs.

And Mpulungu District Community Development Officer, Cain Mbambo, said the department has received inputs for 1,896 beneficiaries, an increase from 1,413 in the 2024/2025 farming season.

Mr Mbambo said the beneficiaries have been drawn from 27 Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) across the district.

Mr Mbambo added that the number of years beneficiaries remain on the programme has been increased from two to three.

“This means that this year we will not have new members as earlier planned, but will maintain the old register and only add numbers according to the increase,” he said.

Under the programme, each beneficiary receives four bags of fertilizer, a 10kg bag of seed and a 10kg bag of legumes.

ZANIS reports that this year, 500 farmers will also receive sunflower seed to promote crop diversification.

Mr Mbambo said the department is currently cleaning its system to ensure the right people benefit, adding that distribution will begin next week.

He said sensitisation activities have already been conducted to ensure farmers understand the repayment requirement of two 50kg bags of maize or the cash equivalent.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries have thanked Government for its continued support to small-scale farmers.

One beneficiary, Clement Yambayamba, said the inputs have helped improve food security and reduce poverty in Isoko and the wider Mpulungu area.

He assured that beneficiaries will continue meeting their repayment obligations to support community development.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has underscored the critical role of accurate statistics in tracking regional progress and informing policy decisions that foster integration.

COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programmes, Mohamed Kadah, says the oversight role played by the Statistics Committee remains a cornerstone of the regional body’s strategy for advancing statistical development.

The media reports that speaking when he officially opened the 16th COMESA Committee on Statistical Matters, Dr Kadah noted that the meeting comes at a crucial time, as the COMESA Regional Strategy for Development of Statistics (RSDS) 2021–2025 enters its final year of implementation.

He said the gathering will enable delegates to take stock of achievements recorded so far and reflect on the challenges and priorities that lie ahead.

Dr Kadah explained that an independent end-term review conducted in late 2025 with support from STATTAFRIC (AUC) and Paris 21 recommended actionable steps to address challenges such as resource constraints and inadequate staffing.

He emphasised that COMESA will continue to urgently seek additional funding and strengthen capacity across the region.

Meanwhile, Dr Kadah highlighted several milestones achieved under the RSDS pillars which include enhanced market integration statistics, expanded support in international merchandise trade, improved import and export price indices, and sustained harmonisation of consumer price indices.

He also acknowledged the contribution of development partners such as the African Development Bank, Statistics Norway, and Statistics Sweden, among others.

The three days meeting has attracted participation of Statistics representatives from the 21 COMESA Member States.

2,882 households in Petauke District of Eastern Province have been targeted under the rainfed Food Security Pack (FSP) programme.

Flagging off the distribution of the rainfed FSP in Manyane area of the district, Petauke District Commissioner Martha Mulenga said that this was targeted at vulnerable but viable households, to ensure that they are food secure and that they contribute towards the food security of the nation.

Ms Mulenga explained that this was the third year running for the target beneficiaries, who under normal circumstances were supposed to be whined off after two years.

She said the beneficiaries have been maintained for the third year due to the drought experienced in the 2023/2024 farming season.

The package includes two 50 kilogram bags of D-Compound, two 50kilogram bags of Urea, one 10 kilogram bag of maize seed and one 10 kilogram bag of groundnut seed.

“For the government to give you these inputs, you are expected to alleviate hunger in your households. I sincerely appeal to you, do not sell the fertiliser,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nsenda Tembo, a beneficiary from Manyane appreciated the timely disbursement of the inputs.

“We are grateful here in Manyane for the inputs. We are just praying that the rains continue in this trajectory so that we have a bumper harvest,” he said.

Another beneficiary Rhoda Nyirenda said she was not anticipating to receive the inputs this year as it was the third year running on the programme, hence her gratitude to the government for the gesture.

“Government did not neglect us during the drought, even the following farming season, they did not neglect us. We were thinking that the programme has ended, but the government remembered us and has given us fertiliser even this year,” she said.

The FSP weans off its clients after two years, however due to the drought experienced in the 2023/2024 farming season, the programme has added an extra year for the beneficiaries.

A 25-year-old man of Chipangali District in Eastern Province has died by suicide after ingesting aluminium sulphate tablets, which are used for maize preservation.

The deceased, identified as Maxwell Banda, reportedly added the tablets to a drink, which he later consumed.

In a statement to The media, Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba, confirmed the incident, indicating that on November 15, 2025, Banda travelled from Katete to Early Trading Area in Chipangali District to his father’s house, where he had been tasked with buying maize.

Mr Mweemba said that on November 17, 2025, around 13:00 hours, Banda was seen with his friends heading to buy maize and that later, at about 17:00 hours, he was again seen with the same friends before passing through home.

Mr Mweemba revealed that Banda returned home with a bottle of drink, which he attempted to give to his wife, who declined as she already had her own beverage.

Mr Mweemba said the deceased then consumed the drink himself, which is suspected to have contained the maize preservative tablets.

He said moments later, Banda collapsed and began vomiting despite being given some milk and rushed to the hospital, Banda was pronounced dead around 12:30 hours on November 18 2025.

Mr Mweemba added that the motive behind the act remains unknown and that police do not suspect foul play.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, has acknowledged the importance of private sector participation in industrial development in the country.

The Minister further notes that steel production is one sector that is helping to stimulate and attain the country’s economic growth.

Mr Mulenga states that government supports industrialisation from viable companies such as Motison Metals Integrated Steel Limited (MMI) a private company that produces steel and contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The media reports that the Minister has also expressed gratitude that MMI is producing steel that is crucial and used for the mining operations, agriculture, construction and energy sectors.

Mr Mulenga, who was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary In-charge of  Investments and Industrialisation, Crusivia Hichikumba, said this when he toured MMI Steel Limited to familiarise himself with its operations.

The company supplies large quantities of steel metals to support industrial growth as well as nails, roofing sheets, tubes, pipes, plastic tanks among other steel related materials.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the tour, MMI Steel Limited Group Director, Gopal Kedia, appealed to the government to consider reducing duty on imported raw materials.

Mr Kedia disclosed that his firm is currently operating at 30 percent, hence, this incentive would help resolve electricity challenges being experienced.

He further revealed that the firm imports raw materials from China and South Africa.

Mr Kedia also stated that the company exports metals to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.